Office politics are a challenge, but I don’t want to be critical of my own people. Sometimes I get a little too timid when I need to reach beyond those political office boundaries. It’s probably best to try pitching this directly to my manager as a way we both can gauge our success and future design vision. Of course, I’m also trying to gather info to prove my worth to future employers. I’m in a position that provides a lot of experience for an entry level designer, but I’ve far outgrown it (no challenge). When I do move on, hopefully I can leave a place that will provide an even more fulfilling experience for future designers. That takes some courage on my part to speak up for the value of design. Thanks for your advice Greenman!